Alcohol abuse and addiction can happen to anyone, and it’s important to know the signs that someone may no longer have control of their relationship with alcohol. But recognising these signs is just the first step to recovery; it is also important to find the right kind of treatment programme for alcohol abuse. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment programme, and different people will need an alcohol treatment programme that is suited for their individual circumstances. This may account for several factors, including but not limited to their age, mental status, or co-occurring conditions.
Teens aren’t immune to alcohol and substance abuse. In fact, adolescence is often a time when young people begin experimenting with alcohol or drugs—sometimes due to a lot of peer pressure and a desire to fit in, other times to escape the very real pressures of being a teenager. If your teen is struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, Venture Academy can help. We offer a variety of treatment programmes for alcohol and substance abuse and broader behavioural issues. With a proven track record and scenic campuses in Red Deer, AB and Barrie, ON, Venture Academy is available and accessible to teens and families across Canada. Check out Venture Academy’s services on the web or call us today at [direct] to speak to an admissions counsellor about getting your teen the help they need.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse
Being a teenager is hard, and teens may turn to alcohol as a distraction from their problems. While many teens experience low mood, dysphoria, malaise, or bouts of depression, these alone do not indicate a problem with alcohol. But, if your teen is drinking often and more than they intended, if they struggle to stop drinking or experience the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (like shaking, nausea, sweating, or racing pulse), or if their alcohol use has put them at risk of physical harm (like driving drunk), they may have a problem that requires professional intervention. There are many alcohol treatment programmes, and the following will give you some things to consider as you try to find the best fit for your teen.
Tips for Selecting an Alcohol Treatment Programme
Evaluating treatment options for your teen can seem overwhelming. Start with your child’s physician; they will be able to offer advice that takes your child’s medical history into account. Additionally, evaluate the practitioners, modalities, treatment settings, and facilities available to your teen. While the situation may be urgent, it is important to gather as much information as possible and get answers to all the questions that may arise.
#1: Consider the Treatment Modalities Available to Your Teen
There are many different types of treatments for alcohol abuse or addiction. Some treatment programmes and professionals will specialise in one modality or another, while other facilities will offer various treatment options. For example, medication can help diminish a person’s dependence on alcohol and is often used in conjunction with other modalities, like behavioural therapies. Subsets of behavioural therapies include, but are not limited to, time-limited interventions that help a person identify their behaviours and risks and set goals, cognitive-behavioural therapy in which a therapist helps a client identify the cues and triggers that can precipitate excessive drinking or motivational enhancement therapy which emphasises a person’s motivation to change, the pros and cons of getting help, and establishing a plan of action. Mutual support programmes (Alcoholics Anonymous or similar 12-step programmes), which provide your teen with anonymous peer support and accountability, may also be available.
#2: Ensure a Personalised Approach to Your Teen’s Care
It may take some trial and error to find the appropriate alcohol treatment programme for your teen, but know that you have options. Make sure that they get the personal support and attention they need to manage their dependence. Ask questions about how diagnoses are made and the steps taken in establishing a treatment plan. Additionally, be clear on how any co-occurring disorders, such as mental illness, will be addressed and supported
#3: Understand the Expectations Placed on Clients and Their Families
Addiction recovery is work, and your teen must take an active part in that work if they are going to be successful in their treatment plan. But so will you! Practitioners and treatment facilities will have their own behaviour guidelines for their patients and their families. While the needs of the patient and their families must be acknowledged and respected, the practices and regulations a facility or a treatment professional has established have a therapeutic value and must be adhered to, so make sure all parties are clear on these expectations before embarking on a treatment plan.
#4: Measuring Success and Managing Recovery
Ask the provider how they evaluate success in a treatment programme. Additionally, find out about recovery support options. Is ongoing recovery support available? How do facilities or practitioners manage setbacks while in treatment? What resources are available to clients as they transition from in-patient to out-patient programmes or adjust to new medications or therapies?
#5: Managing a Relapse
While it may be hard to face, relapses are a part of recovery for many people. This doesn’t mean a client is a failure but needs additional support and treatment to manage their recovery. Relapse can happen during or after a treatment programme has run its course. Make sure you understand how a facility or a practitioner approaches relapse.
Treatment Programmes for Alcohol Abuse Are Available Year-Round at Venture Academy
If your teen needs an alcohol treatment programme, help is available. Venture Academy has a proven track record for helping teens from across Canada confront behavioural issues as well as problems with alcohol and substance abuse. With two campuses in Canada, help is more accessible than ever. Don’t hesitate; call Venture Academy today at [direct] and set your teen on the road to recovery.
